FIFA World Cup 2026: Can Germany and the Netherlands Join Scotland as European Winners?

Sweden head coach Graham Potter says he is “super grateful” to be leading the team into their opening World Cup match against Tunisia in Monterrey, reflecting on a coaching journey that began from modest beginnings and has now brought him to football’s biggest stage. Sweden will play Tunisia on Monday at 03:00 BST in what is a major milestone for both the team and their manager.

Potter’s path to the World Cup has been anything but straightforward. Sweden reached the finals only after finishing bottom of their qualifying group and then securing a place through a Nations League play-off lifeline. Their route underlines how difficult the campaign has been, with the team needing a second chance to keep their World Cup hopes alive. Despite those struggles, Sweden now have an opportunity to begin the tournament strongly.

For Potter, the moment carries even greater personal significance. The 51-year-old Englishman was appointed Sweden manager in October, just one month after he was dismissed by West Ham. His arrival came at a difficult time for the national side, but he has quickly taken charge of a squad preparing for one of the most important matches in their recent history.

Potter’s coaching career has included a remarkable rise through the game. He began with a small role managing students at Leeds Metropolitan University before earning a breakthrough in Swedish football with Ostersund in the fourth division. From there, he went on to coach Swansea, Brighton, Chelsea and West Ham, building a reputation as a thoughtful and ambitious manager who worked his way up through the professional ranks.

Speaking at Saturday’s pre-match news conference, Potter said that if someone had told him at the start of his coaching career that he would one day reach the World Cup through the lower levels of Swedish football, he would have embraced the journey. He described the experience as incredible and said he feels deeply thankful for the life and career he has had.

His remarks highlight both the scale of the opportunity and the personal satisfaction of reaching this point after years of work, setbacks and progress. For Potter, the World Cup represents not just another job, but the culmination of a long professional path that began far from the global spotlight.

As Sweden prepare to face Tunisia, the focus will be on turning that gratitude into performance on the pitch. The team enters the match with plenty to prove after a difficult qualification route, while Potter will be looking to make his first World Cup outing as Sweden boss a memorable one.